Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Net Periodic Pension Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$ 32,291	$ 45,305	$ 43,493
Interest cost	56,331	71,934	71,841
Expected return on assets	(41,820)	(45,375)	(44,787)
Amortization of prior credit	(45,490)	(37,280)	(31,590)
Recognized net loss	18,214	31,573	11,143
Net periodic pension costs	19,526	66,157	50,100
Prior service credit for period	(20,353)	(48,192)	(35,864)
Net loss	49,805	(154,339)	287,313
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	45,490	37,280	31,590
Amortization of net loss	18,214	31,573	11,143
Total	56,728	(196,824)	271,896
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	76,254	(130,667)	321,996
Prior service cost	(41,425)	(45,485)	(37,280)
Net loss	21,905	18,214	31,591
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior credit	59,800	58,800
Net periodic pension costs	24,900	22,800	32,400
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	143,244	175,046	140,436
Interest cost	261,613	302,777	290,076
Expected return on assets	(389,465)	(394,618)	(361,462)
Amortization of prior credit	1,079	1,561	1,600
Recognized net loss	195,298	235,922	145,095
Curtailment loss	3,084	374	0
Special termination benefit	0	76	732
Net periodic pension costs	214,853	321,138	216,477
Net loss	203,229	50,762	1,389,912
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(1,079)	(1,561)	(1,600)
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	(1,045)	(374)	0
Amortization of net loss	195,298	235,922	145,095
Total	5,807	(187,095)	1,243,217
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	220,660	134,043	1,459,694
Prior service cost	261	1,079	1,561
Net loss	227,720	195,321	237,013
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	3,913	6,957	5,957
Interest cost	9,297	12,518	12,261
Expected return on assets	(17,855)	(19,190)	(19,135)
Amortization of prior credit	(5,472)	(2,441)	(2,441)
Recognized net loss	4,256	5,356	1,267
Net periodic pension costs	(5,861)	3,200	(2,091)
Prior service credit for period	(1,007)	(18,035)	0
Net loss	3,331	(11,978)	55,642
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	5,472	2,441	2,441
Amortization of net loss	4,256	5,356	1,267
Total	3,540	(32,928)	56,816
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(2,321)	(29,728)	54,725
Prior service cost	(5,110)	(5,472)	(2,441)
Net loss	4,460	4,256	5,356
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	1,819	446	754
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	20,724	26,646	20,090
Interest cost	52,219	61,885	59,537
Expected return on assets	(79,087)	(80,102)	(73,218)
Amortization of prior credit			0
Recognized net loss	43,745	54,254	35,956
Net periodic pension costs	37,601	62,683	42,365
Net loss	60,968	16,687	300,907
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)			0
Amortization of net loss	43,745	54,254	35,956
Total	17,223	(37,567)	264,951
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	54,824	25,116	307,316
Net loss	46,560	43,747	54,254
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	7,476	9,893	9,414
Interest cost	13,041	16,311	16,642
Expected return on assets	0	0	0
Amortization of prior credit	(7,787)	(7,467)	(5,614)
Recognized net loss	2,926	7,118	2,723
Net periodic pension costs	15,656	25,855	23,165
Prior service credit for period	(4,647)	(1,361)	(12,845)
Net loss	(13,117)	(47,043)	61,049
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	7,787	7,467	5,614
Amortization of net loss	2,926	7,118	2,723
Total	(12,903)	(48,055)	51,095
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	2,753	(22,200)	74,260
Prior service cost	(7,739)	(7,783)	(7,467)
Net loss	1,859	2,926	7,118
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	231	377	135
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	28,194	34,396	25,706
Interest cost	59,478	69,465	66,984
Expected return on assets	(88,383)	(90,803)	(83,746)
Amortization of prior credit			0
Recognized net loss	47,783	59,802	40,446
Net periodic pension costs	47,072	72,860	49,390
Net loss	46,742	16,618	318,932
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)			0
Amortization of net loss	47,783	59,802	40,446
Total	(1,041)	(43,184)	278,486
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	46,031	29,676	327,876
Net loss	49,417	47,809	59,802
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,543	2,028	1,900
Interest cost	2,835	3,436	3,655
Expected return on assets	(5,517)	(6,166)	(5,771)
Amortization of prior credit	(934)	(916)	(915)
Recognized net loss	893	860	149
Net periodic pension costs	(1,180)	(758)	(982)
Prior service credit for period	(6,219)	0	0
Net loss	8,715	774	9,525
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	934	916	915
Amortization of net loss	893	860	149
Total	2,537	830	10,291
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	1,357	72	9,309
Prior service cost	(1,824)	(933)	(916)
Net loss	1,675	893	860
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	236	235	190
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	6,250	7,929	6,094
Interest cost	15,245	18,007	17,273
Expected return on assets	(23,923)	(24,420)	(22,794)
Amortization of prior credit			0
Recognized net loss	11,938	14,896	9,415
Net periodic pension costs	9,510	16,412	9,988
Net loss	10,942	6,329	88,199
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)			0
Amortization of net loss	11,938	14,896	9,415
Total	(996)	(8,567)	78,784
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	8,514	7,845	88,772
Net loss	12,213	11,938	14,896
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	622	818	868
Interest cost	1,791	2,608	2,805
Expected return on assets	(4,617)	(4,804)	(4,475)
Amortization of prior credit	(745)	(709)	(709)
Recognized net loss	146	470	56
Net periodic pension costs	(2,803)	(1,617)	(1,455)
Prior service credit for period	0	0	0
Net loss	5,717	(5,810)	6,309
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	745	709	709
Amortization of net loss	146	470	56
Total	6,316	(5,571)	6,962
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	3,513	(7,188)	5,507
Prior service cost	(745)	(745)	(709)
Net loss	418	146	470
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	65	64	95
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	2,625	3,395	2,666
Interest cost	7,256	8,432	8,164
Expected return on assets	(10,748)	(10,899)	(10,019)
Amortization of prior credit			0
Recognized net loss	6,460	8,053	5,796
Net periodic pension costs	5,593	8,981	6,607
Net loss	5,463	1,853	38,161
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)			0
Amortization of net loss	6,460	8,053	5,796
Total	(997)	(6,200)	32,365
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	4,596	2,781	38,972
Net loss	6,632	6,460	8,053
Entergy Texas [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,590	2,000	2,378
Interest cost	4,154	5,366	5,652
Expected return on assets	(9,575)	(10,351)	(10,358)
Amortization of prior credit	(2,722)	(2,723)	(1,300)
Recognized net loss	2,148	2,740	801
Net periodic pension costs	(4,405)	(2,968)	(2,827)
Prior service credit for period	0	0	(8,536)
Net loss	13,378	(4,907)	24,482
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,722	2,723	1,300
Amortization of net loss	2,148	2,740	801
Total	13,952	(4,924)	16,445
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	9,547	(7,892)	13,618
Prior service cost	(2,316)	(2,722)	(2,723)
Net loss	3,303	2,148	2,740
Entergy Texas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	504	595	491
Entergy Texas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	5,664	6,582	5,142
Interest cost	14,228	17,414	17,746
Expected return on assets	(24,248)	(24,887)	(23,723)
Amortization of prior credit			0
Recognized net loss	9,358	12,950	9,356
Net periodic pension costs	5,002	12,059	8,521
Net loss	3,816	(4,488)	65,363
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)			0
Amortization of net loss	9,358	12,950	9,356
Total	(5,542)	(17,438)	56,007
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(540)	(5,379)	64,528
Net loss	9,241	9,358	12,950
System Energy [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,337	1,881	2,058
Interest cost	2,117	2,511	2,611
Expected return on assets	(3,257)	(3,644)	(3,727)
Amortization of prior credit	(1,570)	(1,465)	(824)
Recognized net loss	1,149	1,198	443
Net periodic pension costs	(224)	481	561
Prior service credit for period	0	(644)	(3,845)
Net loss	4,997	305	10,596
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,570	1,465	824
Amortization of net loss	1,149	1,198	443
Total	5,418	(72)	7,132
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	5,194	409	7,693
Prior service cost	(1,513)	(1,570)	(1,465)
Net loss	1,560	1,149	1,198
System Energy [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	6,263	7,827	5,785
Interest cost	11,966	13,970	13,561
Expected return on assets	(17,836)	(18,271)	(16,619)
Amortization of prior credit			2
Recognized net loss	10,415	13,055	9,500
Net periodic pension costs	10,808	16,581	12,229
Net loss	20,805	101	60,763
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)			(2)
Amortization of net loss	10,415	13,055	9,500
Total	10,390	(12,954)	51,261
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	21,198	3,627	63,490
Net loss	$ 11,857	$ 10,414	$ 13,055